Which of the following does not pass through the carpal tunnel?

Which of the following does not pass through the carpal tunnel?

• A. Ulnar nerve
• B. Median nerve
• C. Flexor digitorum superficialis tendon
• D. Flexor pollicis longus tendon

Answer: (A)

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage on the palm side of the wrist formed by the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. It transmits the median nerve and nine flexor tendons: the four tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis, the four tendons of flexor digitorum profundus, and the flexor pollicis longus tendon. The ulnar nerve does not pass through this tunnel; it travels through a separate path called Guyon’s canal near the pisiform and hook of the hamate. So, among the listed structures, the ulnar nerve is the one that does not pass through the carpal tunnel.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage on the palm side of the wrist formed by the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. It transmits the median nerve and nine flexor tendons: the four tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis, the four tendons of flexor digitorum profundus, and the flexor pollicis longus tendon. The ulnar nerve does not pass through this tunnel; it travels through a separate path called Guyon’s canal near the pisiform and hook of the hamate. So, among the listed structures, the ulnar nerve is the one that does not pass through the carpal tunnel.